Engine cooling system control



Aug. 25, 1942. D. J. MUNSON ENGINE COOLING SYST EM CONTROL Filed April24, 1941 Inventor Jana Yd @1122? .9071) A/ d/ I? F A Home Patente d Aug.25, 1942 U NlT'E D STATE 5 PAT ENT F F lC. 2,293,913

ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM CONTROL Donald J. Munson, Anderson, Ind.

Application April 24, 1941, Serial No. 390,159

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements inautomatic engine cooling system controls of the type comprising athermally operated valve interposed in the cooling system and responsiveto variations in the temperature of the water for controlling orregulating the circulation thereof.

The primary object of the invention is to pro vide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a control of the aforementioned character whichembodies novel means whereby the device will be automatically renderedinoperative and permit the water to circulate freely therethrough in theevent that the valve should fail to open and the water rise to apredetermined temperature.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an engine cooling systemcontrol of the character described which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use,compact and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing whereinlike characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through an automatic controldevice constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of one of the pins.

Figure 4 is a top plan View of another embodiment of the invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view through the modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that theinvention comprises a connection I in the form of a flanged tube ofsuitable material which is adapted to be interposed in the coolingsystem of an internal combustion engine between the upper hose and theradiator. Extending from one end of the tube I are integral arms 2between the free end portions of which a stationary rod 3 extends. Acoiled thermal element 4 encircles the rod 3 and has one end portionfixed thereto. At its other end, the thermal element 4 terminates in anarm 5 which extends upwardly into the tube I.

Traversing the tube I at an intermediate point is a shaft 6 havingmounted thereon a butterfly valve I. Of course, the valve I controls thefiow of water through the tube I. The valve I includes PJI a slot 9extending at right angles to the shaft 6, integral apertured ears II]being provided on the opposite sides of said slot. The slot 9accommodates a link I I having one end pivotally and releasablyconnected to the ears I0 through the medium of a fusible pin I2 of metalhaving a low melting point, The valve I is overbalanced to provide foropening thereof under pressure of the water against one side thereof,when released from the pin I2, and preferably by offsetting the shaft 6from the transverse center of the valve as shown in Figure 1 to providea greater valve area on one side of said shaft 6, or pivotal axis. thanon the other side of said shaft. The melting point of the fusible pin I2is low enough to provide for fusing or shearing of the same, and hencerelease of the valve I from the thermal element 4, when the temperatureof the water rises above a safe point, for example, above 200 degrees.

The free end portion of the arm 5 of the thermal element 4 has formedtherein a slot I3 for the passage of the other end portion of the link II which is connected to said arm by a pin l4. Thus, the valve I isconnected to the element 4 for actuation thereby. An adjustable stopscrew I5 is threadedly mounted in the arm 5 of the thermal element 4 forlimiting the opening movement of the valve I.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the valve I is openedand closed by the thermal element 4 as said element, responding tovariations in the temperature of the water, expands and contracts.Should the valve fail to open for any reason and the water rise to apredeterminned temperature the fusible pin I2 will melt therebyautomatically disconnecting'said valve from the thermal element 4 forpermitting said valve to open under the pressure of the water.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing, thevalve 1 has formed therein a plurality of openings or passages I6 whichare closed by fusible inserts 8. Thus, should the valve I of thisembodiment fail to open and should the water rise to a predeterminedtemperature, the inserts 8 will melt and permit said water to flowthrough the openings or passages It.

It is believed the many advantages of an engine cooling system controlconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although preferred embodiments of the device are asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that furthermodifications and changes in the details of construction may be renamedarm, a butterfly valve operable in the conduit and having a slot thereinfor the reception of the link, and a pin operatively connecting the linkto the valve for the actuating said valve, said pin being formed offusible metal having a melting point sufficiently low to provide forfusing, or shearing, thereof, when the temperature of the water rises toa dangerous point so that said valve is released from the link andthermal element for opening by the pressure of water against the same.

DONALD J. MUNSCJN.

